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The horrific murder of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews is the subject of the Dateline episode, Footprints in the Snow. After attending a Christmas concert in December 1984, the teenager vanished from sight.
Since neither her family nor the investigators were able to determine the teen's true fate, her disappearance raised several questions. The case remained unsolved for years until 2019.
It was disclosed that Steve Pankey, a neighbor, had been convicted of murdering Jonelle. He tried to escape the crime, but was eventually sentenced to prison for life, with parole possible after 20 years.
Steve Pankey is being held at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility located in Ordway, Colorado. According to current information, he will have the chance to apply for parole in 2040. By that time, he will be 89 years old.
According to the Dateline episode Footprints in the Snow, Jonelle Matthews' skeletal remains startled everyone nearly 35 years later. They were discovered in a Weld County field, and it was determined that she had been shot in the head.
Keep reading to know more about the killer.
Dateline uncovers how Steve Pankey was linked to Jonelle Matthews' murder
As explained earlier, the Dateline episode, Footprints in the Snow dives into the details of Steve Pankey's crime. He's a man convicted of the kidnapping and murder of a young girl named Jonelle Matthews, whose family was devastated to learn how she met her end.
Jonelle's sister can be heard in the Dateline episode, saying:
"If my sister were to run away, she would have been dramatic about it."
The family was convinced that Jonelle did not run away from her house, and that something bad had happened to her. The police kept searching for answers and didn't stop until the truth was out.
Since Pankey lived near Matthews' house, he immediately became a prime suspect in her disappearance. The police noticed strange behavior from him over the years and linked him to the crime through some important clues.
What intensified the suspicion on Pankey was the fact that he knew about a garden rake used to hide footprints at the scene, as it was the information that was never made public. These pieces of evidence helped the authorities connect Pankey to the crime.
The journey of Steve Pankey behind bars: Dateline episode reveals his fate
It was in 2021 when Pankey faced his first trial, but was lucky enough not to get caught. But in 2022, a new trial started, and Steve Pankey was sentenced after being found responsible for felony murder and a kidnapping offense classified as second-degree.
Despite this, the jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder. He was consequently given a life sentence, but he will be able to apply for parole after 20 years, which could allow him to leave starting in 2040.
Pankey behaved oddly during the investigation and trials. Despite his insistence on his innocence, he continued to be involved in the case. His ex-wife testified about his domineering behavior and strange behaviors around the time Jonelle vanished, such as abruptly taking the family on vacations and abandoning their pets without warning.
Additionally, Pankey made contradictory claims and strangely brought up Jonelle at unrelated private gatherings. These were cited by the prosecution as indications that he might be concealing his guilt.
Pankey was addressed directly by Jonelle's father at his sentencing, who begged him to be honest and seek forgiveness. Pankey insisted that the sentence was unjust to Jonelle and that he was innocent, expressing his Christian beliefs by claiming that he would be in heaven.
Heartbroken with the loss of her beloved child, the victim's mother said:
"I cannot forgive him for how he killed Jonelle. God is the only one who can forgive evil, and I feel that this is evil."
Jonelle Mathews' family also appears in the Dateline episode, where they can be heard expressing their pain. While Pankey claimed he wasn't involved, the man was ultimately found guilty.
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